The Challenge

Landstown High School was envisioned to be completely state-of-the-art. A 277,500-square-foot facility on 65 acres, the school includes 2 academic wings, a Performing Arts complex, an 1,800-seat Gymnasium, a 650-seat Auditorium, and a 5,000-seat Stadium. AE Systems was chosen to meet the technology needs of this ground-breaking project.

The Solution

In order to offer its students with all the technological resources of the information age, Landstown High School required robust communication networks. AE Systems provided a digital telephone switch with 48 incoming trunks; over 200 telephones, including phones in every classroom, lab, and work area; voicemail for teachers and administrators; a phone messenger service for automated attendance information, homework hotline, and other parental-involvement applications; and a classroom intercom system with zone, all-page, and master clock class-change schedules. The school also features 10 data closets; over 1,275 high-speed data drops, with a minimum of 5 student workstation outlets and 1 teacherís outlet in every classroom; data drops in the Auditorium, Gymnasium, Scola, and Cafeteria/Commons; and wireless data connectivity in the Media Center, Auditorium, and Cafeteria/Commons.

To fulfill the schoolís multimedia requirements, AE Systems installed Rauland-Borg's Telecenter IP media management system. This full-function, IP-based system allows scheduling of multimedia resources (VCRs, Laserdiscs, DVDs, etc.) from any web-enabled computer. 6 off-air television stations were also provided, along with a satellite dish, school news bulletin board computer, and local origination channel allowing broadcast of live activities from the Auditorium, Gymnasium, or between classrooms. Every classroom includes a 32" television / computer monitor, and 42" plasma displays were installed in 8 labs. VGA access from the teacher's laptop to the television is available through a teacher's panel in every classroom, which also features a local audio/video input. The classroom television and scheduled resources can be controlled either by the teacher's computer or via wireless remote control.

Professional sound systems were installed in the Auditorium, Scola, Cafeteria/Commons, and the Sports Field. The Cafeteria/Commons features a two-part system combinable into a single, large system, and the Sports Field system provides the best sports announcement system in Virginia Beach, with pro-style offensive and defensive coaches' intercom and spotters in the Press Box.

Finally, AE Systems integrated all the life safety systems required by Landstown High School: an addressable fire-detection and alarm system with a wireless interface to city headquarters; a multi-zone security system with access-control and intrusion-detection features; and 86 color CCTV cameras deployed throughout the campus.